General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

what to do with my top

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-24-2008, 04:21 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Zarniwoop42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Monrovia CA
Posts: 237
Total Cats: 0
Default what to do with my top

There is a point to this thread, I promise, but first im going to vent a bit.


So I bought my 91 with a ratfucked rear window. it is toataly frosted over, and slashed many times by a theif, so needless to say, rain kindof sucks for me.

I found a temporary solution. I have been using Umbrellas to cover my open rear window, and it works great. Well it would have worked great if not for the ********...

I work at a pizza restaurant next to a bar in a fairly nice part of Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. The last time it rained some bastard(I assume he is a regular at the bar) broke one of my umbrellas, and stole the other, soaking my car. So this time when I bought some more umbrellas, I tied them in real well with some bathrobe waistbands to my rollbar. This time the ************ was not able to get my umbrellas, so he decided to mutilate them, and bend down my antennae for good measure

so i figure i have two options

1- Get some more umbrellas, get the night off when it rains, wait in co-workers car, show bastard umbrella theif what four beanbag rounds feel like

2- Fix my top (too broke to replace it)

I would prefer option 1, but, I probably will go with option 2. oh well...

I dont really want to sew the zipper back on, so I was thinking velcro (spelling?), and for the window, I was wondering if you guys think I should go with plexi cut with a bandsaw? Or should I try to get some nice flexible clear vinyl from a marine supply store(boats people, not grenades)
Zarniwoop42 is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 05:16 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Torkel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Norrahammar, Sweden
Posts: 611
Total Cats: 7
Default

Sorry to say, I recognize the behaviour. Some people seam to think that if something is a little bit broken, it is OK to make it very broken. They should of course be shot, hanged, whipped and *** raped by the Stockholm Gay Pride Festival Committee, but since that is hard to accomplish, I think you should fix your top.

I have used Plexiglas to build a windblocker and it is qiute nice to work with. Maybe if you pick one of the thinner, lighter models, it could work. When it comes to repairing the top, weather strip adhesive is great. Kind of sticky and messy, but bounds the cloth together well and doesn’t show a lot. Another way could be to buy a used top with holes in it and cut out the window for your top. Good luck and aim true!
Torkel is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 06:10 AM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Oscar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bolton, UK
Posts: 3,022
Total Cats: 120
Default

+1 for sawed-off and rocksalt

have a sailboat-shop (??) sew in a clear piece of vinyl, they know this kind of work
Oscar is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 07:56 AM
  #4  
Junior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Milton Tucker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Western N.C.
Posts: 446
Total Cats: 1
Default

I would buy a yard of this vinyl, and use adhesive to mount it
http://www.ahh.biz/products/tinted%2...g%20FVT020.htm

And remember Goop is your friend
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s..._0_level1_Goop
Milton Tucker is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 04:26 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
 
TonyC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: E. LA
Posts: 435
Total Cats: -4
Default

zarni,

rain in LA has been sucking the big left nut for ALL of us. i have a dude in E. LA who'd be able fix the whole thing for $75 since he offered me to replace the entire slashed top for $200 (keeping the glass window, i have no idea how he's gonna do this)

btw: which pizza joint, and is it any good? would it by chance be Casa Bianca???

g'luck.
TonyC is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 04:29 PM
  #6  
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
 
cjernigan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,091
Total Cats: 7
Default

$169 for a whole new top http://www.hydroe.com/
cjernigan is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 06:17 PM
  #7  
Elite Member
iTrader: (16)
 
patsmx5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,293
Total Cats: 475
Default

Option 1, and shove the broken umbrellas up his *** sideways. Sit and wait in your friends car with a baseball bat, and break his knees when he ***** with your car. Then laugh at him and drive off. He'll have several months of Physical theraphy to think about what he did.
patsmx5 is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 06:24 PM
  #8  
Elite Member
iTrader: (39)
 
Zabac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: High Point NC
Posts: 4,850
Total Cats: 8
Default

replacing a top is really not that hard nor expensive, just get a new one...
Zabac is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 06:56 PM
  #9  
Newb
iTrader: (1)
 
idriveamiata's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Buford
Posts: 41
Total Cats: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Oscar
+1 for sawed-off and rocksalt

Bring out the Judge

http://www.taurususa.com/video/tauru...udge-video.cfm

"specificly designed for in-car protection"
idriveamiata is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 06:58 PM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Zarniwoop42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Monrovia CA
Posts: 237
Total Cats: 0
Default

btw: which pizza joint, and is it any good? would it by chance be Casa Bianca???
yes in fact, it is casa bianca and its really ****** good

I have to go back tonight. I thnk I might throw a shower curtain over it and park it right in front. Im sure ill replace the top eventually, but ill probably make a project out of it first
Zarniwoop42 is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 09:27 PM
  #11  
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
 
hustler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Default

I bought clear vinyl from the fabric store (get the tinted **** though), used "marine glue" from Lowes, some speaker magnets to hold it tight, and its been water tight for 2+ years.
hustler is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 10:26 PM
  #12  
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
chriscar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Carrollton TX
Posts: 1,709
Total Cats: 15
Default

Originally Posted by cjernigan
$169 for a whole new top http://www.hydroe.com/
Hot damn, that's cheap. The top on my new Miata is a little ratty, and the rear window is totally fubar. Do you know anyone who's used that top?

C
chriscar is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 10:31 PM
  #13  
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
 
cjernigan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,091
Total Cats: 7
Default

Originally Posted by chriscar
Hot damn, that's cheap. The top on my new Miata is a little ratty, and the rear window is totally fubar. Do you know anyone who's used that top?

C
Yeah i bought and installed one on my buddies 91. It fit great and is holding up really well too. It's zipperless so the window folds in half. It's been close to 3 years now since we installed it.
cjernigan is offline  
Old 01-24-2008, 10:39 PM
  #14  
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
chriscar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Carrollton TX
Posts: 1,709
Total Cats: 15
Default

Originally Posted by cjernigan
Yeah i bought and installed one on my buddies 91. It fit great and is holding up really well too. It's zipperless so the window folds in half. It's been close to 3 years now since we installed it.
That's a huge help bro, thanks a bunch.

How do I know if I need to replace the tension cables. (I don't know squat about convertibles).

C
chriscar is offline  
Old 01-25-2008, 05:08 AM
  #15  
Elite Member
iTrader: (11)
 
elesjuan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Posts: 5,360
Total Cats: 43
Default

Originally Posted by hustler
I bought clear vinyl from the fabric store (get the tinted **** though), used "marine glue" from Lowes, some speaker magnets to hold it tight, and its been water tight for 2+ years.
I used plastic epoxy, sanded down the area around the top but forgot to sand the plastic 'window' and needless to say.... It disappeared on the highway one day, I got pissed and bought a new top.
elesjuan is offline  
Old 01-25-2008, 05:22 AM
  #16  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
Zarniwoop42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Monrovia CA
Posts: 237
Total Cats: 0
Default

Well, I got home from work today with fairly dry car. I made box fort over the rear window (should have taken pics)

not a drop inside the car, and the umbrella theiving bastards apparently dont really like boxes.

sunday i will be starting the velcro and plexi project(don't really care if yall think its stupid, ill keep you guys updated with pics though)
Zarniwoop42 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigmackloud
Miata parts for sale/trade
19
01-08-2021 11:24 AM
StratoBlue1109
Miata parts for sale/trade
21
09-30-2018 01:09 PM
stoves
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
5
04-21-2016 03:00 PM
russian
Miata parts for sale/trade
6
10-08-2015 03:01 PM



Quick Reply: what to do with my top



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:41 AM.